Cut-off valve



April 19, 1960 P. KREIS 2,933,283

CUT-OFF VALVE Filed Feb. 14, 1958 maar..

ited; States The invention relates to a stop or cut-oli valve of the type of membrane or diaphragm valves for gaseous and liquid media especially to a high-speed, rapid-closing valve having a rotary handle causing a displacement of the valve tappet when rotated.

The known valves are actuated either by a screw-down spindle or by a bayonet catch. Both'types have disadvantages.

It is the object of the invention to create an improved and simplified stop valve, whose special advantages mainly resides in its absolute safety andthe simplicity of its operation.

The invention provides for a stop valve for liquid or gaseous media, especially a membrane or slide valve, the rotary handle of which causes an axial displacement of the valve tappet. The invention is substantially characterized in that the rotary knob tensionally connected to the valve tappet is provided with a control element which engages with stationary sliding elements.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve tappet is coaxially guided in a valve cover fixed in the valve body perpendicularly to the path of iiow, and the rotatable knob carrying the control member has a cylindrical opening overlapping the valve cover, the control member being arranged on the superficies of said .open1ng.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control Vmember is a circular endless or iinite curved path having at least one valley and peak corresponding to the control position of the valve.

An embodiment of a high-speed, rapid-closing valve according to the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through an open Valve;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through a closed valve;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of a rotary knob with huilt-in control member;

Fig. 4 is a cross section through the center of a control member; Y

Fig. 5 is a developed view of a control-member curve; and

Fig. 6 is another development of another control-member curve.

The membrane or diaphragm valve shown `in Fig. 1 consists of a valve body =1 with flow borings 2 and 3, a valve seat 4, an elastic spring diaphragm 5 with a packing disc 6 and a valve tappet 8 which actuates the diaphragm and is guided in a valve cover or bonnet 7. The valve tappet is operated by a rotary knob 9 which is radially rotatable but not axially displaceable with respect to the valve tappet. The rotary knob and the valve tappet are tensionally connected and thus execute the same axial displacements when the valve is operated. In order to produce the required motion of the rotary knob and the tappet, a control member 11 is built into an appropriately dimensioned opening of the knob or handle. The invention also provides for a transverse shaft 13 passing giametrically through the yalve cover 7 and having at its i atentil i 2,933,23i Patented Apr. 19, 1960 eds the rollers 12 which tensionally cooperate with the control member. Since the height of this transverse shaft in the cover is fixed by means of accurately fitted borings, the rotary knob when rotated eliects an axial displacement corresponding to the curved path of the control member. The rotary knob cap 15 theri transmits this axial displacement to the tappet which, in the embodiment, is kept freely moving with respect to the transverse shaft by means of an appropriately dimensioned groove 14 or slot in the tappet. In the example, the groove extends to the upper end of the tappet. A spring disc or elastic washer 16 may be interposed between the tappet and the rotaryknob cap 15. The tappet head carries a cover plate 17 provided with pressed-in rings. A disc 18 may be inserted between the spring disc and the rotary-knob cap. The spring disc acts in the sense of closing the valve. The path of the spring is short; it acts as elasticity reserve for compensating the elasticity of the packing disc 6 in the closing position. The metallic spring disc may be replaced by any other elastic member such as spiral spring, rubber pad or the like.

According to Figs. l and 2, the valve cover is pressed into the valve body 1, which displays at this point an opening 26. For this purpose, compressed ilanges overlap the base of the cover. This compression, which may, of course, also be produced by means of a screw fastening, simultaneously serves to press in the diaphragm 5 as well. The diaphragm is perforated in the center to permit the neck of the tappet to pass through. The packing disc 6 is mounted on said neck as is an additional closure disc 21, designed to increase support and durability, between the exible diaphragm and the packing disc. These members are held in position by a head-like end of the tappet neck, for instance, a screw 20 or a rivet pin. On the opposite side of the diaphragm, the tappet comprises a stop disc 22, which, on the one hand, joins the diaphragm and, on the other, strikes against the bottom of the valve cover when the valve is open.

The tappet 8 consists of two members. One portion, the diaphragm carrier, is formed of a stop disc 22 and a threaded bolt 23. The other portion, the rotary-knobY carrier, consists of a cylindrical guide piece with the groove 14 and a threaded sleeve 24 offset for this purpose. The threaded bolt is tted accurately into the threaded sleeve whereby a screw fastening of the two portions is produced. The screw fastening offers the advantage of a certain adjustability of the tappet for compensating manufacturing tolerances. This screw fastening is secured against being twisted from the adjusted position by the transverse shaft. A spiral spring 25 is supported by the upper tappet portion on the one side and by the bottom of the cover on the other, thereby producing spring action in the sense of opening the valve.

The control member 11 may consist of oppositely situated guide grooves in the rotary knob for the slide rollers. It is suicient for this purpose if the grooves have a length which suiiices for effecting the rotation required to actuate the valve. According to one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the control element is formed of a single stamped structural element (Figs. 3 and 4) and consists of a holding llange 30 and a circular, uninterrupted curved path 31. Owing to transverse shaft engaging the curved path on both sides, the latter has two symmetrically arranged valleys and peaks. The peaks, which correspond to the closing position of the valve, are provided with a depression 32 designed to prevent the transverse shaft being automatically urged away from this position. The round reversal on this embodiment is made possible by the fact that'the curved path does not end with an extreme corresponding to a valve position, but that it continues with a pattern which is identical with curve y located ahead of the extreme. SuchA a symmetrically faeaaass shaped curve pattern permits of a rounded reversal not only in one but in every direction of rotation.

Although this embodiment shows a bilaterally symmetrical control curve, the invention is .not limited.there to. The round reversal is, of course, also possible in the case of only one or several peaks and valleys on a circumference. The invention may alsoY be realized with a guiding member having a lower embodiment and an upper curved path (not shown in the drawing). Depending on the construction, especially on the spring load of the valve to be controlled, it is, of course, possible to provide onlyfor an upper curved path, ipe., a curved control path having its effective path areaLin the direction of the valve seat. In this case, it would be of special advantage to .mold the curved path linto the rotary knob when same ismanufactured. The holding flange 3l) of the control member is advis'ably shaped to correspond to the shape of the rotary knob. 'I'he two ends of said fiange are provided with borings 33' forbeing fastened to the rotary knob, for instance by. means ofthe cap screws 34. In the embodiment, the curved path 31 -is pressed out of the holding flange. A ange 3S with a horizontal'gliding plane v356 may be formed. This shape is quite strong structurally and makes it possible to form a sufficiently wide curved gliding plane of a thin metal plate. The control member. may, of course, also be made in a different manner, for example, as a pressed or molded member with wide, full curved flange, or as a casting. The depressions or valleys of the curve may be positioned at any other angle to the flange, depending on the arrangement of the transverse shaft. It is advantageous to arranged the peaks close to .the fastening screws, since this Varrangement facilitates the absorbing of the increased load in the closing position ofthe valve (the embodiment shows the opposite arrangement for diagrammatic reasons). lFinally the control .member may,'of course, consist of several portions.

Contrary tothe above-described endless control curves, the control member may, according to another embodiment, constitute a finite curved path. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate examples of such curve developments. The positions 4i), 41, 42 and 43 are end and intermediate positions; but they may also be assigned to special valve operating processes.

The rotary knob 9 is; preferably.made of plastic. or metal casting. Its shapeaccording to the invention .is rhombic or elliptical .(Fig. 3). Thisshaping of theknob facilitates the adjustment of the -valve and makes itpossible to grip it even in the dark. logically, the longitudinal axis ofthe rotary knob, when'opcn, extendsin the direction of llow,.and.perpendicularly .thereto when the knob is closed. Accordingly,'.thecontrol curves: are advisably disposed in such a manner that. full action pitch of the tappet is obtained whenthe rotary knob is rotated by 90.

The embodiments of an invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a Valve, a valve body. having an .intake-opening and discharge opening, a cover on said bodyl and a valve seat provided with an opening for placingthe inlet and outlet openings in communication when said-seat opening is open, a valve member. operable between aseated position on said valve seat closing .the seat opening- .and-fa plurality of unseated positions correspondingto. positions partially and fully, openingthe valve, anVaXially/displaceable tappet. for.l operating the valve totheaseatedaand unseated positions, .rnechanismt for; actuating-the valve to i openl and closed positions ,i comprising, fa: rotatable member mountedfor rotationalizmovement:and axial movement on said'cover, first resilient means cooperameans comprising a control cam plate rotatable under control of the rotatable member'for displacing the rotatable member on the valve cover in opposite axial directions corresponding to the opposite directions of axial displacement of said tappet by the first and second resilient means, said cam plate having a cam portion for displacing the rotatable* member axially on said cover in a direction for compressing the first resilient means to cause it to move the tappet axially in a direction overcoming the second resilient means and seating the valve member and for moving the rotatable member axially in selected increments away from the axial position thereof correponding to ,the position in which the valve is closed thereby to open the valve.

2. In a valve, avalve body having an intake opening and discharge opening, a cover on said body and a valve seat provided with an opening for placing the inlet and outlet openings in communication when said seat opening is open, a valve member operable between a seated position on vsaid valve seatclosing the seat opening and a plurality of unseated positions corresponding to positions partially and fully opening the valve, an axially displaceable tappet for operating the valve to the seated and unseated positions, mechanism for actuating the valve to open and closed positions comprising, a knob mounted for rotational movement and axial movement on said cover, first resilient means cooperative with saidv knob for biasingthe tappet in an axial direction toward a position for seating the valve member, second resilient means biasing lthe tappet in an oppositev axial direction for unseating the valve, means comprising a control cam plate mounted on the knob for displacingthe rotatable member on the valve cover in opposite axial directions corresponding to the opposite directions4 of axial displacement of-said tappet -by the first and second resilient means, said cam plate having a cam portion for displacing the knob axially on said coverin av direction for compressing the first resilient means to cause it to move the Atappet axiallyin a direction overcoming thesecond resilient means and seatingthe valve member and-for moving the rotatable member axially. inV selected. increments away from the axial position thereof correspondingto the position in which the valve is closed thereby to open the valve.

3.1In..a valve according .toclaim 2in which, said cover ,is tubular andthe tappetismonnted axially guided therein and in which, said meansfondisplacing the knob axially.. onlthe. cover.. comprises carrriollowers rotatably .mounted ongsaid cover and cooperative with said cam portion ofthe cam plate, said first resilient means being disposed bearing'. against said tappetand. said second resilient -meansbeing disposed holding the tappet against said rst resilient means, said` knob having. a recess housing said first resilient means and saidcover extending into said recess.

4. In a valve, a valve body having an intake opening, a discharge openinganda valve. seat provided with'an opening for placing the inlet and outlet openings in communicationA when .said vseat opening is open, acover on said body, eans for opening and closing the valve at will comprising a resilient,deformable valve member operable between a seated position-on said valve. seat closing the seatopening and` anunseated position opening the yvalve and .having-the characteristic-fofl .constantlyl tending to .restore itself- -to the. unseated. position, .a cover. including a tubular-r; bonnet .disposed extending. outwardly of.. the valve-tbody.- andinto-.itclamping amarginal edge-portion of-.said.valve.member .to hold Atheinlarginal edge portion 'inea liuid-tight-iixedposition-relative .the valve body, an `axiallyldisplaceable.;tappet disposed in said tubular bonnet foperably-connectedz to L the valveY body for' operating .the --valve'fmember to the? tseated. andzunseated positions .zand

constantlyV urged byA said valve fmember axially-toward a valve opening direction; a rotatable knob memberon'said 'bonnetv1 operatively coupledV to `the 'tappet and havingJ a.

control cam plate rotatable therewith disposed peripheral- 1y of the bonnet, cam follower means internally of the knob connected to said bonnet bearing on the cam plate for causing the knob member to move axially of the bonnet thereby to displace the tappet axially inopposite directions, said cam plate having a ramp construction for controlling the axial displacement of said tappet and operative valve-opening and valve-closing positions of the tappet, and the vdirection in which said diaphragm urges saidk tappet corresponding to a direction for causing the cam plate to bear on said cam follower means.

5. In a valve according to claim 4, in which said cam plate has a ramp construction congured to define a plu- -rality of operative positions of the tappet between the valve-closing position and a fully-opened position of the valve.

6. In a valve according to claim 4 in which said cam plate has an uninterrupted ramp construction with two symmetrically arranged peak portions and two symmetrically arranged lowermost portions with the rate of ascent between each corresponding lowermost portion and a corresponding peak being equal.

7. In a valve according to claim 4, in 4'which the'cam plate is formed as a circular ramp uninterrupted path 

